Continued engagement of local schools through People & Wildlife Officer

4 Interpretation boards installed

A fungus species new to science was discovered in the River Mole Woodlands (Fusicolla melogrammae)

Fire Station airside visit with Sussex Amphibian and Reptile Group

Sponsorship of Sussex University PhD project on bees

CABI Himalayan balsam rust fungus trial

2nd summer placement for ecology university students

Jubilee Staff garden makeover for pollinators

ECOLOGICAL REVIEW

River Mole floodplain, North West Zone

The following are summaries of our data gathering for the past year.

Invasive Species Mapping

Invasive plant species mapping acts as one of our
Biodiversity Performance Indicators (BPIs), informing progress of our invasive
species control programmes. Below are maps of the biodiversity areas with the
invasive species indicated, updated as of October 2016.

This coming year the main focus of removal will be in the
upstream areas closest to the airfield. The majority of the balsam is removed
by hand, whereas dominant areas are controlled chemically.

A new invasive species has been identified at Gatwick at
both the sites – Goat’s Rue (Galega officinalis) and will be added to the
management regime from 2017.

Biodiversity Performance Indicators:

Other BPIs include monitoring of protected species found at
the airport such as Grass Snakes, Great Crested Newts and breeding birds.

Great Crested Newt
surveying

The population at Pond 4 is curently stable. Since Pond 3 was
electrofished in 2015, Great Crested Newts (GCN) have been seen laying eggs once again.

More regular monitoring is now being implemented at the
Charlwood Park ponds to gain a greater understanding of the GCN population
here.

Reptile monitoring

A Slow Worm (Anguis fragilis) was recorded for the first time at
Gatwick since the biodiversity action plans first began in 2012; a single
individual was recorded in September 2016. The only other
reptile species officially recorded at Gatwick to date is Grass Snake (Natrix
natrix). There are occasional reports of Adder (Vipera berus) but this species
is yet to be confirmed through photographic evidence.

In addition to our
reptile surveys, we have been sampling the DNA of Grass Snakes with unusual
colouration. Small scale clippings are taken and sent onto Bangor
University for analysis as part of a population genetics study.

Black and striped Grass Snakes (Natrix natrix)

It was a good year for Grass Snake activity in the North
West Zone, though the surveyors noticed there tended to be a greater presence
on higher ground.

Counts seemed to be lower this year in the Land East, this
could be due to the low lying nature of the sites and a rather wet spring and
June.

As recommended by Common Standards Monitoring Guidance, our
targets here include presence of both adults and juveniles of less than 1yr
old, or around 20cm in length, which indicates successful breeding. Each year
we have witnessed both adult and juvenile Grass Snakes on our main sites, which
is taken as evidence of a healthy breeding population.

Declining bird species list

The below is a list of Birds of Conservation Concern (BTO,
2015) which have been recorded either in or around the biodiversity areas. New
species which were observed at Gatwick in 2016 are Nightingale and Lesser
Redpoll. Short-eared Owl is an Amber-listed species which has been recorded
feeding on the airfield in 2015 and 2016, but has not been seen interacting
with the biodiversity areas.

Red Listed

Amber
listed

Observed airside but not seen interacting with biodiversity
areas:

Other new species added to our bird list in 2016, but which
are not of Red or Amber status were:
Jack Snipe, Cormorant, Peregrine Falcon,
Sand Martin, Stonechat and Egyptian Goose.

Declining bird BPIs

The following bird species were chosen as BPIs on the basis of their consistent interaction with the transect habitats. In the Land East of the Railway Line, BPIs are Grey Wagtail and Marsh Tit (red
listed), and Bullfinch and Dunnock (amber listed). For the North West Zone,
they are Linnet and Mistle Thrush (red listed), and Kingfisher and Reed Bunting
(amber listed). Two common bird species (Blackbird and Wren) are used as comparable indicators of resident bird activity. Continual monitoring of these birds may be useful in the long term to
detect any significant changes to local populations.

Survey performance - Other species

100% of 21 different types of survey have been completed in
2016:

Aquatic invertebrates

Dormice

Badgers & hedgehogs

Dragonflies

Bat activity

Fungi Survey

Bat box checks

Great Crested Newts

Late winter birds

Invasive flora

Early breeding bird

Mammal tracking along waterways

Late breeding birds

Moths

Early winter birds

Reptiles

Bumblebee and Long-horned bee counts

Riversearch

Butterflies

Small mammal trapping

Spawn/tadpole surveying

Badgers & Hedgehogs

Badgers (Meles meles) have been caught on trail camera in the Land East of
the Railway Line. Hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) have only been recorded north of the site as
roadkill on the nearby A23 and Charlwood Road.

Bat Activity

Four surveys were carried out at the Gatwick Stream Flood Attenuation
Site to establish a new baseline for the area. Four species of bat were
recorded - Brown Long-eared (Plecotus auritus), Common Pipistrelle
(Pipistrellus pipistrellus), Noctule (Nyctalus noctula), and Soprano
Pipistrelle (Pipistrellus pygmaeus), none were new species to Gatwick. Compared
to previous years surveys in 2009 and 2014, there are fewer BLEs and more
Noctule, likely due to the recent changes in the habitat from cluttered
landscape of hedgerows, to open wet grassland.

Bat box checks

Martyn Cooke's (Surrey Bat Group) update:

Brockley Wood – Overall numbers of boxes being used
increased from 5 last year to 7 this year, occupancy at 21%.

Horleyland Wood – Disappointing with only 2 boxes being used
(9%). Woodland bat species in Surrey seemed to have taken a big hit this year
due to the amount of rain we had in April/May and again in June.

River Mole Corridor – Pleasing with 7 boxes used (26%) which
isn’t bad for a first year. Finding the Soprano Pipistrelle in April was a good
sign. Hopefully the occupancy rate will improve with time.

Brown Long-eared (Plecotus auritus)

DNA testing of the
roost at Charlwood Park Farmhouse revealed the species to be Whiskered Bat
(Myotis mystacinus), which is unusual to find roosting in a building. The
building was unoccupied at last check, but bats tend to move around through
several roosts. Other species previously confirmed as roosting in this building
are Common Pipistrelle and Soprano Pipistrelle.

Bumblebee and long-horned Bee counts

New nesting sites were discovered for the Long-horned Bee,
further verifying the high quality of the habitat along the River Mole corridor.
Bumblebee surveys in the form of ‘BeeWalks’ have continued for 2016 along the
River Mole transect.

Female Long-horned Bees sharing burrow entrance

Butterflies

A new species was recorded this year – the Purple Emperor (Apatura iris) found on the River Mole at Povey Cross in July. Our butterfly
species list for the entire site now stands at 32.

Purple Emperor (Female)

Dormice

After 2 individuals were recorded in 2015, a lone female was
recorded in 2016. In September it was confirmed she was a breeding female as
the nest contained several pinkies (very small young).

Dragonflies

No new species recorded in 2016. Our total number of
Dragonfly species to date stands at 20.

Fungi surveys

Fungi are an under-recorded group of wildlife, which means new discoveries are being made by some very dedicated naturalists. The
Sussex Fungi Group visits our sites twice per year and in 2016 Nick Aplin
discovered a new species to science in the River Mole Woodlands. The
microfungus has been named Fusicolla melogrammae, and is parasitic on another type of fungus called Melogramma, often associated with Hornbeam trees.
The confirmation of this newly named species was published on ResearchGate in March
2017.

Hornbeam trees along the River Mole Woodland.

Underneath: Fusciolla melogrammae and preparation of spores

(Images by Nick Aplin and Christian Lechat)

Mammal tracking:

American Mink (Neovison vison) were observed at Gatwick Stream and 2 individuals were
removed by our licenced controller.

Moths:

We took a break from our regular moth trapping events this
year and carried out daytime Clearwing Moth surveys, which involved the use of
pheromones hung from pegs in targeted habitats. Four sessions were carried out over summer which resulted in the discovery of the Sallow Clearwing Moth (Synanthedon
flaviventris) in Goat Meadow. This is an under recorded species yet deemed nationally
scarce in the UK.

Sallow Clearwing Moth (Synanthedon flaviventris)

Riversearch and Riverfly surveying:

Surveys along the River Mole and Gatwick Stream were
conducted in late 2016 and the data submitted to the Surrey Wildlife Trust's RiverSearch scheme. Along
the Gatwick Stream at the flood attenuation site, regular mayfly monitoring is carried out by volunteers in the Riverfly survey scheme.

Riverfly surveyors Richard and Luke

Small Mammal monitoring:

In autumn 2016, another trapping effort targeted Harvest Mice (Micromys minutus) as part of the genetics study by Surrey Mammal Group. A disappointing result, with
high numbers of nests found in the reedbeds, but very few captures of Harvest Mice for DNA
sampling.

Harvest Mouse nest, River Mole floodplain

HABITAT ACTION COMPLETION

We have been on track with our habitat conservation actions in 2016. Typical regular biodiversity works have included:

• Invasive
species control

• Grassland
cut & collect

• Woodland footpath
scalloping

• Hedgerow
trimming/laying

• Pond
bankside maintenance

• Tree
thinning

• Scrub
removal

• Tree guard removal
• Dormouse and
bat box
maintenance

Grassland cut & collect:

The grounds maintenance contractors Glendale have been carrying out a cut-and-collect of all our conservation areas. Some of our areas have got a bit dock-heavy.

Scrub control:

Gatwick Greenspace Partnership opening up a compartment in Goat Meadow

Several of our grasslands are being encroached by scrub, and it is a constant battle to keep them open without the help of herds of grazing animals.

Hedgerow management:

Hedgerow laying with Tom Simpson, Gatwick Greenspace Partnership

Invasive species control:

Himalayan Balsam removal along the River Mole with Gatwick Airport Staff

Footpath improvements

In order to stop our woodland footpaths becoming overly-wide trampled bogs, Tom Simpson and Gatwick Greenspace have been working hard on extending the boardwalks.

Extra project works:

Much time was spent in 2016 overseeing extra ecological mitigation works across the two sites. Wildlife impact assessments are carried out before every task in the biodiversity areas, in order to prevent any undue disturbance to resident wildlife. The following habitat works were completed successfully by Roots Upwards Ltd, with assistance from GAL Projects and Dyer & Butler:

Gatwick Airport Ltd works with the Gatwick
Greenspace Partnership (GGP) to raise awareness of wildlife conservation and promote wellbeing in the
community. Over the year Gatwick Greenspace has engaged 377 volunteers over
38 days on Gatwick’s two conservation areas. The majority of these days were
with GAL staff and the remainder were local communities and businesses based
in Crawley and the surrounding area. A regular group of volunteers from the
local area provide GGP with continuous support.

Volunteer tasks in 2016 included:

- Himalayan
Balsam control

-
Interpretation board installation

- Footpath
improvements

- Bee hotel
improvements

- Willow
scrub removal

- Litter
collection

- Wildflower
seeding

- Bracken
management

Installing interpretation boards with Gatwick's Environment Health and Safety Team

Gatwick's staff have also helped to create a
pollinator garden in the Jubilee House staff memorial area, at the North
Terminal. This is part of a research project run by Sussex Universities
Laboratory of Apiculture and Social Insects (LASI), aiming to help gardeners
identify which garden plants are good for bees and other pollinating insects.

Events

As part of Gatwick Goes Wild Week from May 31st – June 5th, we ran family bushcraft days, guided walks and wildlife workshops.
This run of events allowed us to introduce Gatwick's staff and the local
community to the work we do and the wild places around the airport.

Our third Gatwick Wildlife Day was held over the weekend of
June 17th & 18th. Despite the intermittent rain, we were able to engage
over 30 naturalists and members of public with the site at Rolls Field, Land
East of the Railway Line. It was decided that it would worth repeating this
event in the same area for 2017.

Gatwick Wildlife Day, June 18th 2016

Education and research

Gatwick Greenspace assisted students from The Worth School
achieve their Duke of Edinburgh award while they in turn helped us remove
Himalayan Balsam. Pupils from the Towers Convent School also visited the sites
to remove willow scrub. In return Gatwick Greenspace visited the school grounds
to help construct a willow dome with students.

Sussex University

A regular site visit takes place in March Professor Goulson
and students to both biodiversity areas as part of their ‘Conservation in
action’ course unit.

Gatwick has committed to sponsoring a PhD project in solitary and
Honey Bee conservation. Some of the research will be carried out on Gatwick’s very own Long-horned Bee population.

Sussex University visit Gatwick's conservation areas

Brighton University

An ecology and conservation schedule is sent out to an email
group inviting students to volunteer with surveys on a casual basis. Three students
from Brighton have been regularly visiting our sites in the past year.

Royal Holloway University

For the second year in conjunction with the Gatwick Greenspace
Partnership, we hosted two part-time work experience placements; an ecology student and a geography student gained practical experience with us in Gatwick’s
conservation areas.

Bangor University

We have contributed to a student project on Grass Snake population genetics, by collecting DNA samples of the unusually coloured individuals.

CABI

The research organisation CABI continues to trial the effectiveness of rust fungus on a
patch of Himalayan Balsam at our site. This study will continue for
at least a further two years.

Gatwick’s Honeybee Apiary

Our small number of hives continue to do well in Ashley’s
Field, Land East of the Railway Line. We have submitted two years’ worth of
monitoring results and no newly invasive pests or diseases have been detected.

BeeWalk Training Day, June 2016

Many thanks to everyone who has contributed to the content of this report. Here's to another eventful year ahead!

Biodiversity Gatwick Photos

Click here for project photos and snapshots of Gatwick's ecology

Glossary:

Biodiversity:

The variety of organisms found in a given area.

“The variety of life and its processes. It includes the variety of living organisms, the genetic differences among them, the communities and ecosystems in which they occur, and the ecological and evolutionary processes that keep them functioning, yet ever changing and adapting.” Noss & Carpenter (1994)

Ecology:

The scientific study of the relationships that living organisms have with each other and with their natural environment. Ecology addresses the full scale of life, from tiny bacteria to processes that span the entire planet.

LERL:

Land East of the Railway Line (One of our conservation sites)

NWZ:

North West Zone (Another of our conservation sites)

Organism:

An individual animal, plant, fungus or single-celled life form

Habitat:

The natural home or environment of an animal, plant, or other organism. e.g. woodland, lake, deadwood

Ecosystem:

A community of interacting organisms and their physical environment. e.g. a lake ecosystem contains water, chemicals, substrate, organisms.

Community:

An assemblage of two or more populations of different species occupying the same geographical area. e.g. grassland communities include grasses, insects and birds

Succession:

The process of change in the species structure of an ecological community over time. The community begins with a few pioneering plants and animals, developing through increasing complexity until it becomes a stable climax community. e.g. a volcanic island after an eruption, or a felled woodland

Competition:

The interaction between different organisms, where the presence of one lowers the fitness of the other